On June 6th 1944, as the Nazis occupied Europe, the Allies launched their biggest attack ever, with 34,000 American soldiers embarking on a fateful mission to free Western Europe. On Saturday, June 4 from 9-11PM ET/PT, Discovery Channel premieres SURVIVING D-DAY, the epic story of the brave but often unorthodox tactics deployed during the twelve-hour battle for Omaha Beach.
Arguably one of the biggest turning points in modern history, the battle for Omaha Beach is also one of the most unconventional and strange battles in history. Military strategy was informed by stage magicians, and conventional weapons were used alongside outlandish inventions like floating tanks and exploding dummy paratroopers. Spies sent secret messages by pigeons, and the French resistance hid codes and maps in watercolors of landscapes.
By forensically analyzing war records and real testimony, SURVIVING D-DAY reveals that the difference between life and death for American soldiers hung on such details as what they ate for breakfast, the interpretation of a weather forecast, or the design of a buckle strap. Yet despite ingenious and creative tactical devices and strategies, the most powerful weapons of warfare were still leadership and bravery. The special tells these incredible stories -- many told by Omaha Beach veterans themselves -- to examine this historic day and reveal who survived... and why.